File for letters or the like.



A. DUTHIL.

FILE FOB LETTERS OR THE LIKE.

APPLICATION rum) 001'. 20, 1913.

1,1 17,648. Patented Nov. 17, 1914. Flgzi.

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UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

ALPHONSE DUTI-IIL, OF MEZIERES, FRANCE.

FILE FOR LETTERS OR THE LIKE.

To all whom it may concern Be it lmown that I, ALPHoNsE DUTHIL, acitizen of the Republic of France, and resident of Mzieres, Ardennes,France, have invented new and useful Improvements in or Relating toFiles for Letters or the like, which are fully set forth in thefollowing specification.

This invention proposes an improved clamp, chiefly applicable to files,records, loose-leaf pocket books, cases etc., to enable documents suchas business papers, invoices, letters etc. to be quickly filed and boundwithout requiring the formation of perforations therein.

The accompanying drawings show by way of example several constructionsaccording to this invention.

Figure l is a side elevation of the clamp applied to a file; Fig. 2 is ahorizontal section on line AA, Fig. 1; and Figs. 3 and 4 arediagrammatic side views of a con struction applicable to loose-leafpocket books.

Against the back 1 of the file (Figs. 1 and 2) is securely fitted amember 2, which has its ends bent inwardly so as to form grooves 3.These grooves afford guidance to a metal bar 4 extending entirely acrossthe file and having projections at its ends, to engage the said grooves3, the projections being here shown as produced by recessing the barends. The bar 4 thus engaged in the guide grooves is enabled to movebodily therein toward and from a similar bar 5 secured to the member 2,the two bars forming a pair of jaws between which may be arranged thesheets 11 for separating the documents subsequently filed.

A chain 7 or other suitable flexible element connected to one or morehelical springs 10, is arranged in the opposed grooves 6 provided in thebars 4 and 5 adjacent the front, longitudinal edges thereof, said chainpassing through the openings 8 in the ends of the said bars. The chainand the helical springs constitute an expansible device which, passingaround the two bars,

serves to tightly clamp the contained documents. In passing through theopenings 8, the chain can be guided either by rollers 9 or by giving asuitable curvature to the grooves 6 at such points, or by other suitablemeans. Moreover one or more of these Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 20, 1913.

Patented Nov. 17, 1914. Serial No. 796,260.

ldevices may be arranged around the two ars.

The same tightening action is obtained if the expansible device ordevices, instead of surrounding the two bars, pass along the groove ofthe movable bar alone, and their ends are secured at suitably selectedpoints pip one of the flat covers or boards of the Figs. 3 and 4 show aconstruction which is applicable to loose leaf pocket books. The twomounts aand b replace the bars previously described. They are connectedby one or more hinges c and are designed to receive in the grooves (Zthe eXpansible tightening device previously described.

This invention thus brings about automatic tightening of documents, andwhen a sheet is introduced it is automatically gripped and held in placewithout requiring to be perforated.

Claims:

1. A clamp for loose-leaf files and the like, comprising a pair ofsuperposed bars adapted to receive between them the documents to bebound and formed with inwardly-projecting, longitudinal channelscoincident in length therewith and having openings adjacent the ends ofthe channels; and an endless tightening device for drawing said barstogether passing along said channels and through said openings.

2. A clamp for loose-leaf files and the like, comprising a pair ofsuperposed bars adapted to receive between them the documents to bebound, said bars being formed with inwardly projecting, longitudinalchannels coincident in length therewith and having openings adjacent theends of the channels; and an endless tightening device for drawing saidbars together embodying a spring disposed in the channel of one bar anda chain disposed in the channel of the other bar and having its endspassed vertically through the openings in both bars and connected to theends of said spring.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

ALPI-ION SE DUTHIL.

HANSON 0. Com.

Copies of this'patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

